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Q&A: Choosing a 1.5 Ct. Round Brilliant for a Halo Setting Within a $12k Budget

By Mike Fried, Updated June 29, 2020

Looking for a 1.5 carat, Ideal cut, G, VS2 to VVS2, excellent polish and symmetry, no fluorescence, no culet, no thick or thin girdle, 53 to 60 table and depth 59 to 63 and of course. I want it to sparkle. I am thinking of spending 12000ish. What are your thoughts? I know I didn’t mention crown, pavilion or l/w ratio because I don’t know enough about them.

Is there a reason for those specs? Especially the high color/clarity?
https://www.diamonds.pro/education/color/
https://www.diamonds.pro/education/clarity/

What style setting (solitaire, pave/side stones, halo) and metal (yellow gold, white gold, platinum) are you putting it in?

Thank you for your reply. I purchased a ring for my wife at the jewelry mart in Fullerton for her 50th birthday. I did not like the diamonds that they were showing me for the center stone so I decided on a 2 carat Moissanite for temporary purposes until I could decide on a real diamond and how much I wanted to spend.

I want it to have the same brilliance as the Moissanite or close to. Thus the reason for clarity. The other specs are just based on information I have gathered from the internet. But you’re the expert here so you can educate me and make your recommendations. I will be sending you two or three photos of the ring I will be purchasing the diamond for, hopefully within the next hour or less.

……

Here are the photos.

……

Would you suggest going up in carat and down in clarity and color?

Thanks for the pictures.

The color is not that high after all. H+ is what we recommend for halo settings like the one you have. Here is a diamond I found that is well priced, cut and eye-clean:
Blue Nile LD08169302

Let me know what you think.

I like the diamond very much. I read on your website that you have coupon codes for discount at Blue Nile. Will you be able to provide a code to me?

Of course. Here it is: [contact us for your own unique coupon code]
It’s for $100 for a purchase over 1.000.

Thanks,

The diamond you recommended is no longer available, can you please recommend another one? I am ready to buy.

What about this one?
Blue Nile LD06528537

What are your thoughts on these two?
Blue Nile LD08066424
Blue Nile LD07899946

The first one’s specs look good, but I’m not a big fan of the crystal that is right on the table. The second option is cut way too deep. Ideally, the depth should be close to 61% and never exceed 62.6% (62.8%). Not only will the diamond be less brilliant, it will look smaller: http://www.diamonds.pro/truth-about/diamond-carat-weight/

I still like the one I sent you the most. It doesn’t have an actual photo, but because it’s a VVS clarity, it will be eye-clean.

Ok, thank you very much. I am going to go with the one you selected.

My pleasure. I’m glad I could help.
Let me know how it looks when you receive it.

We received the diamond 10 days ago and we are extremely happy with the choice you made. Thanks again for you assistance in choosing a diamond for me!

Thank you very much for letting me know. I’m happy that you love the diamond.

We wish you and your partner a life of happiness and fulfillment.

James Allen James Allen is the leader in online diamond sales. Their imaging technology is the same as inspecting a diamond with a jeweler's loupe. They have the largest exclusive loose diamond inventory online and fantastic prices. They also have the nicest collection of lab-created diamonds online. They currently run a 10% discount on selected lab-grown diamonds!
Click to Visit
What we love about them:
  • No questions asked returns within 30 days of shipment. James Allen will send you a paid shipping label to return the ring.
  • Lifetime Warranty
  • Free International Shipping
  • Free prong tightening, repolishing, rhodium plating and cleaning every 6 months
  • Provide insurance appraisals
  • One free resizing within 60 days of purchase
  • Free ring inscriptions
  • Best-in-class high quality imagery of all diamonds in stock
  • 24/7 Customer Service
  • Best-in-class packaging
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Blue Nile Blue Nile is the largest and most well-known internet jewelry seller. They have a very large exclusive online inventory. Their high-quality images are catching up to James Allens' and their prices are amazing. Right now, Blue Nile offers up to 50% savings on selected jewelry during a limited-time season sale.
Click to Visit
What we love about them:
  • No questions asked returns within 30 days of shipment. Blue Nile will send you a paid shipping label to return the ring.
  • Lifetime Warranty
  • Free Shipping
  • Free prong tightening, repolishing, rhodium plating and cleaning every 6 months
  • Provide insurance appraisal
  • One free resizing within the first year of purchase
  • High quality images of about half of their diamonds
  • 24/7 Customer Service
  • 100% credit towards future upgrades (must be at least double in value)
  • Best in class fulfillment
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